India Are Better Than Alive and Well
Showcase interviews Len Vlahos of Tattered Cover Book Store
Socalwritersshowcase.com generally focuses on southern California, but this month we shift gears to visit Denver, Colorado’s The Tattered Cover Book Store, to ask owner Len Vlahos about the state of independent bookstores today. With six locations, Tattered Cover holds special program such as Tattered Tales Storytime for youngsters, trivia competitions, and Teen Readers for teens to share and critique writing, often with a nationally published young adult author. A community gathering place since 1971, Tattered Cover has a long history of hosting live author events, averaging over 400 authors, illustrators, and public figures each year.
Showcase: Print books seem to be holding their own against the onslaught of e-reads. How do you account for this?
Vlahos: There are really two reasons. First, print books have been around for centuries and have meaning to people. We all grew up reading print books, as did our parents, as did their parents. Second, the experience of reading a digital book is fundamentally different than reading a print book. Consider music – the experience of listening to a streaming song is the same as the experience of listening to a vinyl record; it’s sound through speakers. Reading digital and print is not the same. Additionally, there are studies that show reading e-books is bad for sleep, and that reading comprehension is much higher with print.
Showcase: What about the popularity of independent bookstores?
Vlahos: Indie bookstores took it on the chin for many years. The rollout of chain superstores, the massive increase in square footage devoted to books in mass merchants like Target and Walmart, and, of course, the rise of Amazon, took a toll on indies. Our numbers declined from 1994-2010. Since then, however, we’ve experienced a renaissance.
Showcase: What role do indies play in their communities?
Vlahos: Our numbers are growing because people want good, vibrant bookstores in their communities; they want author events; they want a place to go where they can be surrounded by interesting things (books) and interesting people (readers).
Showcase: You have speaker programs almost every day. At least one Southern California author appears in the line-up (Beverly Gray, Seduced by Mrs. Robinson: How “The Graduate” Became the Touchstone of a Generation). How can a non-local author get into your speaking/book signing schedule?
Vlahos: We host more than 500 events per year across our stores, but we get proposals for twice that number. In order for an author to be considered, we have to have already agreed to carry the book, and we have to believe the author will draw an audience.
Showcase: What else would you look for in the pitch?
Vlahos: We want to know how the author will market to our community, understand who is the audience for the book, know what makes this event special. If it’s an indie-published title, we will only accept it if there is a strong Colorado connection.
Showcase: Anything we’ve left out?
Vlahos: Thanks for thinking of Tattered Cover!
For more about Tattered Cover’s program and initiatives, visit tatteredcover.com